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Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Published

Goal 9 is to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Illustration: The UN

More than half of the world's workers are in insecure jobs, often caught in a vicious circle of low-productive occupations with poor pay, and limited access to both education and social insurance. This applies more to women than to men. In addition, over the next 20 years, the global workforce is expected to increase by 800 million people, which means that major efforts will be needed to create new jobs. Promoting macroeconomic stability, a positive investment climate, employment and decent work are important factors for sustainable development.

Good conditions for private enterprise and entrepreneurship are one of the prerequisites for growth that society as a whole takes part in, and for achieving the goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. For companies to develop their full potential, access to national, regional and global markets is vital. These factors are also important for foreign investment, which can provide an important contribution to employment, innovation, technology transfer and productive capacity.

Promotion of decent work should be conducted at the same time as access to basic social benefits is expanded. Social security systems foster secure individuals, reduce the risk of children being exploited, stabilise the economy in the event of emergencies and facilitate mobility in the labour market. Information about social protection systems is available under Goal 1.

Targets

9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all

9.2 Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry's share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries

9.3 Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets

9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities

9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending

9.a Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States

9.b Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities

9.c Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020

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